Crook County adopts updated public-records policy and approves FY2027 fee schedule

Crook County commissioners on May 20 adopted an updated public records request policy intended to improve transparency and align county practice with Oregon law, and later held the required public hearing to approve the county’s fiscal year 2027 fee schedule.

County staff said the updated records policy renames the records custodian role to "records officer," tightens out-of-scope language, and pulls referenced forms out of the policy so staff can update them administratively. The policy was presented as consistent with prior legal review and earlier board direction.

Justin of the Prime View Review (Western Media Group) testified during public comment that the outlet appreciated the county’s revisions following a past dispute and the county’s engagement with outside counsel, calling the updated process a step toward improved access. "We appreciate the county's efforts here to refine its process," Justin said.

After discussion, the board adopted the updated public records policy as Order 2026-17. Commissioners then opened and completed a separate public hearing required for the county fee schedule. Christina (staff) said the fee schedule had one clerical correction to references and otherwise reflected the work shown at prior sessions. A member of the public asked whether some new fees were driven by state statute; staff said some changes stemmed from state requirements.

Commissioners voted to adopt the fee order for fiscal year 2027 (beginning July 1, 2026) with administrative corrections noted for the final document.

What happens next: Staff will finalize and publish the updated public records policy and corrected fee order; records forms will be maintained administratively as the policy directs.